Taken from “Sri Anil Kumar Speaks to Southern California Young
Adults,” April 23rd, 2000

But, above all, in the name of friendship, never get into bad
company. If you don’t find good company, then live by yourself. You
may be good; but if you are in bad company, sooner or later you also
will become bad.

Here is a simple example: When sand is in the company of air, it
goes up. But when it is in the company of water, it goes down.
Similarly, when you are in the company of good, you are noble. In
the company of bad people, you turn wicked and cruel. So avoid bad
company.

Bhaja Saadhu Samaagamam:
Always be in good company. Tyaja Durjana Samsargam: Run away
from bad company. Smara Nithyam Ahoraathram: Think of the
Divine, day in and day out. That is what Baba tells us. Kuru
Punyam Ahoraathram: Do good service, day in and day out.
Nithyaanithya Vasthu Viveka: Discriminate between what is
permanent and what is not. Who is your real friend? Not David, not
Daniel, not Nelson or Mandela! (Laughter)

Who is your real friend? God is your real friend. Why? He will not disown you; He will
not disappoint you; He will not give you up at any point of time. He
cares, He consoles, He cajoles. He has every concern. Who is your
friend? The correct answer is, “God is my friend,” not so-and-so. Am
I clear?

Young Adult: How important is the involvement of everyone in the
young adult group, and also what does Swami say should be the focus
of the young adult group?

Community service! There are so many service programs. You just sang
bhajans. That is service. Those who are strong should serve
the community. Those who can sing should sing bhajans.
Service is the one thing that brings everyone together. Do service
to the old people at the home for the aged, or you can visit
hospitals. Help people. Not only that. Give a word of solace, a word
of compassion, a word of forgiveness, a kind word, a good gesture, a
word of appreciation: "Ah my boy, do well. It doesn’t matter, you're
smart enough!” That is service.

Service is not necessarily distributing food to thousands of people,
who are not even hungry! (Laughter) Service does not mean
distributing sweets to diabetic patients! (Laughter) A kind
word, a compassionate look, an attitude of forgiving, an attitude of
giving, yes, that is service. These are the things that we should
cultivate.

At the individual level, suppose we find a person who is depressed.
Depression and frustration are common among youth everywhere – there
in India and also here in America. Depression, frustration, and
disappointment! Well, if we go and tell them, “Don’t be depressed.
Don’t be frustrated. Baba cares for you. Baba will look after you
because He has declared, 'Why fear when I am here.' Yes, have more
faith in Him. He is God, the Lord Himself. He will never allow this
boat of life to sink. No! You will sail and you’ll never sink. You
will flourish! You’ll never perish." That is service. If a person is
in depression, speak some encouraging words to him. In times of
failure, stand by him.

Young Adult: The mind is often troubled by guilt and sadness at not
having lived up to Swami’s expectations. How does one treat such
feelings?

Very good. Let me repeat the question for the benefit of those who
might not have heard what he just said. When we fail to follow
Swami’s teachings, there is a sense of guilt in our minds. We feel
very sad and grief-stricken. At these moments, what should we do?

Now the answer is so simple. If I really repent from the bottom of
my heart for all my trespasses, for all my failures, then I will not
repeat the mistakes again. Once I feel very badly about what I have
done, when I feel very sorry and pray for forgiveness, then the Lord
is there as “Kshamaa Murthi Sai Baba”, meaning “Sai, the
Embodiment of Forgiveness”.

So once we pray for His forgiveness, the Lord is there because He is
giving and forgiving. So, naturally He will forgive us. If He didn’t
forgive, then He would be a dictator. But God is not a dictator.
Does your mother not forgive you? Then why wouldn’t the Divine
Mother, Mother Sai?

The sense of guilt is a negative attitude. Give up this sense of
guilt. Even if you have committed a mistake…finished! There ends the
matter. The sense of guilt will affect your competence; the sense of
guilt will affect your efficiency. The sense of guilt will make you
meek and weak in life. Give that up! Be free!

Above all, be cheerful! Keep smiling. That is very important.
Never make your face so serious like that. (Prof. Anil Kumar
makes a very serious face.) That is most ungodly and
irreligious, I tell you. It is better we keep away from those people
whose faces are so serious. Consider them as ‘untouchables’ --
because God always smiles. Woe unto those who are cut off by
miles and miles from smiles. Let us smile!

In the latest discourse, Bhagavan said, "Under all circumstances, at
all points of time, no matter what it is, keep on smiling.
Keep smiling." You know, in this land of America, everyone smiles. I
need not especially speak about this here. I have not met any
Americans with long faces. They smile, and they make others smile
too.

Young Adult: How do we feel close to Swami? How can we maintain that
closeness? What can we do that will make Swami very happy?

Very good! Very good question! My friends, I am not given to
flattery. I am telling you very honestly. At all the centres that I
visited here -- Houston, San Antonio, and Los Angeles, I have seen
many devotees listening to Swami’s bhajans as they drive
their cars.

Bhajan
is the point of contact between the devotee and Swami. That is His
‘cell phone’: "Hi Swami!" (Laughter)Bhajan is the
cell phone contact you can have that will make you feel the nearness
of Swami. Am I clear?

Bhajan
is very important. You may be in Prashanthi Nilayam, but if you
don’t sing bhajans, then I don’t think you have that inner
‘phone’ contact -- only physical contact during darshan. But
if you sing, He is always by your side.

He said so long ago: Madh Bhaktha
Yathra Gaayanthi Tathra Thishthaami Naradha.

Naradha, the great singer, asked the Lord, “Lord what is your
address? I have heard it is Kailash; I have heard it is paradise; I
have heard it is heaven.”

So bhajan is the best contact. It is most essential. I don’t
know whether I sing well or not. If anyone says, “Anil Kumar, your
voice is not good”, then I will tell them, “I’m sorry, it is not
meant for you. It is for my happiness. If you are disturbed, please
step out. You have no business to complain. I sing for my happiness.
I am not an artist nor am I a professional, and I am not singing for
your compliments. No!” (Laughter)